Connoisseurs wanted: BMW blesses Alpina's super 7-series for the U.S.

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Ah, yes, the price. The B7 starts at $117,075, some $40,500 more than a 750i but $8,000 less than a 760Li and not out of line with competitors such as the upcoming S63 AMG, which we expect to go for $125,000. Of course, the B7 gets BMW's four-year/50,000-mile warranty with all service included--wonder what that's worth on a car like this.

In Europe, Alpina offers a full lineup of modified BMWs in addition to the B7, including the B3--a higher-output, 360-hp 335i--as well as 5- and 6-series cars (B5 and B6) with the B7's powertrain. We think the B5 and B6 could find a following here as they have just as much horsepower as the M5 and M6, a bunch more torque (516 pound-feet versus 383), an easy-to-live-with automatic, a 30-percent-better fuel-economy rating, and perhaps even more performance. In fact, in a test by the British mag Autocar, a B6 outperformed an M6 to 60 mph, to 100 mph, and from 0 to 100 and back. So it's not surprising that BMW has no plans to bring either of those two potential M spoilers--or any other Alpinas, for that matter--to the U.S.

For now, we get to enjoy the B7, of which BMW plans to sell about 1000 copies total, roughly 200 in the first year. Warning to Corvette drivers: You will not be able to ditch the 68 7-series connoisseurs who are already on the loose.